Gruelling challenge inspired by charity that helped friend

AFTER battling a gruelling half Ironman triathlon, most competitors would look forward to a well earned rest.

But for Harrogate man Ben Naughton, it will mark the start of an epic fundraising challenge that will see him compete in exhausting events five weekends in a row to raise £5,000 for the MS Trust.

The challenge was inspired by his friend James Al-Mudallah, who was diagnosed with the disease aged 23 last year and was supported by the charity.

Mr Naughton, 24, said: “I chose each one because each is such a challenge in its right. So many people ask for sponsorship, I thought the more crazy the challenge, it might persuade people to donate.”

Following the half Ironman on August 31, he will compete in the Coniston Chill Swim, row a marathon, cycle from London to Paris and then finish the challenge with Berlin Marathon on September 28. In total, he will run, swim, cycle and row over 500km.

He said: “The first challenge is the most daunting, because it’s everything thrown at you - a swim, then jumping from the bike into a marathon.”